Speech Therapy Program

Individuals with Down syndrome who are verbal and have good articulation can have greater prospects for a self-directed life with enriching opportunities. A quality speech therapy program can help make this difference.

Program Facts

To help our children -- and adults -- fulfill their potential to speak, and speak more clearly, DSACT launched a Speech Therapy Program in January 2015. Our program is low-cost and open to individuals with Down syndrome in the Central Texas area who, with a family member, meet eligibility criteria. Funding for this program has been made available by DSACT, the Kozmetsky Family Foundation, RGK Foundation, Children's Special Needs Network, and the Austin Community Foundation.

This program provides group therapy to people with Down syndrome, ages four years and up, working in therapy groups of five participants. Participants must be able to focus on therapy work, remain seated for a therapy session, behave compliantly, and be non-verbal or need improvement in speech clarity. For each participant, one family member must commit to attend the monthly therapy sessions, and follow-through with therapy homework between sessions.

DSACT will begin accepting new applications for this speech therapy program at the end of summer 2018.

Volunteer Opportunities

The DSACT Speech Therapy program will need volunteers for a few hours, 1-2 times a month on a Saturday to assist in child directed play, preparing the space for instruction, as well as aiding families with challenging behaviors. The program will be conducted at Speak Freely, which is a private practice in South Austin. No experience is required. If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up here.

DSACT wants to thank Speak Freely for partnering with us to create this program and for the generous discount they give to DSACT which allows us to offer this program at a very low cost to our members.